We are officially more than half way done with Camp Rock shows. Total of 9 shows, and tonight we have completed show number 5. I can't express how much fun I'm having with such an amazing cast. At 9pm, August 16th, it's going to be a sad moment. It will all be over, and who knows when we'll all see each other again, if ever. It's the truth about musicals, just like our director says, "You will NEVER be on a stage again with this exact cast." I've met some of the greatest of people here in Camp Rock and have seen friendships grow and break. Without camp rock I wouldn't have grown to be such a good friend of Leanna (Mitchie Torres), Bon Bon (Sander), and new friends Nick (Barron) and Cristina (Tess). There's SO MANY ensemble members that I have enjoyed spending my everyday of summer with. You all mean so much to me and I will NEVER forget this experience with you all.
After 7 years, I've got to act along side my best friend Jon. So much with him, I love that we got to share the lead roles of "Connect 3" together.
And though this Monday coming up will be a sad moment in a lot of our lives, to see such a huge project be put away, I'm very excited to continue working with the LOVES of my life: Fiasco!, 12 Days In Paris, my musical 22, writing more music with David Lei, and looking forward to a progressive future.
Thanks to everyone who has made this show extra special. You know who you all are and I wouldn't want it to be any other way. I hope to work with many of you in the near future with any project that comes our way.
Tomorrow call time is Noon, and we won't leave our theatre til 9pm at night. Gotta love it. Can't wait.
Til next time...I'm having the time of my life.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
"Wake up in the morning feeling like JOE JONAS." -VFC
It's here....it's crazy to think the day is actually here. Camp Rock opening night is tonight...(tomorrow). I've NEBVER been in a more talented cast then this one. Truly. This is THE most fun I've ever had in a show, and this is the MOST talent I've ever seen in my run of musical theatre. I've never been more proud to be in a musical before. Such a great cast. And we're ready for this. We've been rehearsing so much, and now it's time to show everybody what we've been up to. Tomorrow/today...I will wake up feeling like Joe Jonas. I've been waiting for this day for the past 3 months. I'm gonna miss it when it's gone....but for now, while it's here, I'm gonna give it all I've got.
"This is our song, that's all that matters cause, we all belong, right here together. There's nothin better,than singing along, this is our summer, this is our song." -Camp Rock
Leanna (Mitchie), here it is. Can you believe it? Let's go big or go home. <3
"This is our song, that's all that matters cause, we all belong, right here together. There's nothin better,than singing along, this is our summer, this is our song." -Camp Rock
Leanna (Mitchie), here it is. Can you believe it? Let's go big or go home. <3
Friday, July 23, 2010
What more can go right?
Camp Rock is looking and sounding AMAZING. There are times where I will stand and watch the opening of the show, as well as other numbers like "It's On", and I just look at everyone doin their thing...acting, singing, dancing, performing...everyone in this cast is soooo good. I look around and just can't believe that it's all really happening. About 85 people in one room, doing what we love most. Being apart of something so special and so new, and performing our hearts out. It's amazing to sit back and watch it all come together.
My drummer Brandon was recently on tour with Rufio handling business on the road loving life and now my guitarist Brent is on tour with Disney's Allstar Weekend. It's all such a great feeling to see our lives progressing. When we're together AND when we're apart, there's always something happening with Fiasco! and I love it.
One of my best friends David Lei is out on tour in Germany with his group Varsity Fanclub living the dream. I couldn't be happier with allll of our lives. I love where I'm at. In the best band in the world, in a Disney world premiere, and getting fit again.
It's only up from here. LML.
My drummer Brandon was recently on tour with Rufio handling business on the road loving life and now my guitarist Brent is on tour with Disney's Allstar Weekend. It's all such a great feeling to see our lives progressing. When we're together AND when we're apart, there's always something happening with Fiasco! and I love it.
One of my best friends David Lei is out on tour in Germany with his group Varsity Fanclub living the dream. I couldn't be happier with allll of our lives. I love where I'm at. In the best band in the world, in a Disney world premiere, and getting fit again.
It's only up from here. LML.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Nights like these need to be remembered.
So far...today is by far my favorite Camp Rock rehearsal. I love full cast rehearsals cause I get to see EVERYONE. And we get to see what Camp Star has been rehearsing and vice versa. I'm gettin really excited for this show to open =)
Got some bomb Juice It Up with Gabe, Leanna and Cristina, then a great 4 hour rehearsal, finished up with a strong 4 hour pool party =) Lot's of great people, friends, cast members, all around amazing conversations.
For the first time, I tried the chair levitation trick with one guy in the chair and 4 of us using two fingers each. It didn't work for the most part...and one time Gabe sat in the chair and we tried it....it didn't work and Orion got frustrated and said, "Man Gabe! You just fat!" haha, it was awesome.
So tomorrow/today...I head to all three malls in my area to buy most of the Shane Gray costumes. I need three outfits. Shouldn't be too hard. =)
Got some bomb Juice It Up with Gabe, Leanna and Cristina, then a great 4 hour rehearsal, finished up with a strong 4 hour pool party =) Lot's of great people, friends, cast members, all around amazing conversations.
For the first time, I tried the chair levitation trick with one guy in the chair and 4 of us using two fingers each. It didn't work for the most part...and one time Gabe sat in the chair and we tried it....it didn't work and Orion got frustrated and said, "Man Gabe! You just fat!" haha, it was awesome.
So tomorrow/today...I head to all three malls in my area to buy most of the Shane Gray costumes. I need three outfits. Shouldn't be too hard. =)
Saturday, July 17, 2010
My voooiiicceee
Wow. Today: I went the Macy's in the Montclair Plaza mall to buy tattoo cover up makeup. $52 gone with in minutes. But I gotta do it for Camp Rock!
Headed to rehearsal and recorded voice tracks from Noon to 6pm, Jodie (theatre mom) was nice enough to order 3 boxes of pizza because we went 2 hours pass our deadline on time and we had rehearsal from 6pm-10pm! Sooo, I ended up singing for 10 hours straight today! I think a total of about an hour of actual rest time. I couldn't believe it. But we got a lot done that's for sure.
10pm a few of us went to Regina's grandma's house....amazing, cause they had a pool, and right away I jumped in. I needed it bad. Lisa made BOMB sandwiches and then we have dessert. Daaamn, I shouldn't have had it, but I ate it anyway. It felt great.
Such a great day, even though my voice was over the 10hour run with in the first 4 hours!
But I love it. I love this show, this cast, this moment in my life.
Headed to rehearsal and recorded voice tracks from Noon to 6pm, Jodie (theatre mom) was nice enough to order 3 boxes of pizza because we went 2 hours pass our deadline on time and we had rehearsal from 6pm-10pm! Sooo, I ended up singing for 10 hours straight today! I think a total of about an hour of actual rest time. I couldn't believe it. But we got a lot done that's for sure.
10pm a few of us went to Regina's grandma's house....amazing, cause they had a pool, and right away I jumped in. I needed it bad. Lisa made BOMB sandwiches and then we have dessert. Daaamn, I shouldn't have had it, but I ate it anyway. It felt great.
Such a great day, even though my voice was over the 10hour run with in the first 4 hours!
But I love it. I love this show, this cast, this moment in my life.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Camp Rock: Week Five
Wow, such a great show. These rehearsals are flying by. I love so much of the cast. Sometimes it hits me and I can't believe I actually got the part of Shane Gray in a Disney World Premiere. Crazzyyy. I worked so hard for the part. It feels good. Opening night will be insaaanee to experience.
The entire cast is getting closer and closer as the days of rehearsal go on.....well MOST of us are =) haha. Realistically its hard sometimes witha cast of 100 people who are all so different. I've met so many different personalities. I love it. Really.
So today, Zooly (Zoolena) came into rehearsal and gave me one of those pennies that you put in a machine and it smashes it and puts an imprint of something on it...well she remembered that one of our first conversations was about how much I love penguins. She went to Sea World yesterday and totally got me a penny with a penguin printed on it! Soooo dope. I loved it...love it still. Zooly's such a thug.
Well we have the entire FIRST ACT done for the show except "It's On"...which will be finished next monday I believe =))
Feels good to be a part of something so big...so fun.
The entire cast is getting closer and closer as the days of rehearsal go on.....well MOST of us are =) haha. Realistically its hard sometimes witha cast of 100 people who are all so different. I've met so many different personalities. I love it. Really.
So today, Zooly (Zoolena) came into rehearsal and gave me one of those pennies that you put in a machine and it smashes it and puts an imprint of something on it...well she remembered that one of our first conversations was about how much I love penguins. She went to Sea World yesterday and totally got me a penny with a penguin printed on it! Soooo dope. I loved it...love it still. Zooly's such a thug.
Well we have the entire FIRST ACT done for the show except "It's On"...which will be finished next monday I believe =))
Feels good to be a part of something so big...so fun.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Years in the making
Okay, let's have a talk...
At age 9, my Dad bought a drum set for the entire family. My four older brothers, my Dad and I would play this set probably every single day since the time he bought it. At age 10, my Dad bought me my first electric guitar. As any aspiring musician would, I practice every single day for a half hour to an hour for about 2 to 3 months til my heart was content with the basic chords I had learned. With in the first 2 weeks of picking up the guitar I wrote my first song called "Thinking of You". Wasn't superb, seeing that I was only 10. I went on to write surf style music. No vocals. With my brother Dennis on drums, we started performing at my elementary school's assemblies on Friday mornings. Went onto Middle School and performed at small gatherings and a few lunch time concerts in the Mutli Purpose Room. At this point I had my own band. Started out with my brother, and then met some musicians in Junior High and formed a band here and there. In this moment in my life, I began to perform at recreational venues all over the Inland Empire. By the time I hit the end of Sophomore year in high school, I was in the band Unforgotten. and had performed at least an under-exaggerated 150 shows. Began to perform solo at every coffee shop and street fair possible. Created a band called Xanimo with a few friends and went "balls out". We performed every place imaginable around all of Southern California. I quit the band and continued with my solo career as a singer/song writer. About 2 years later I joined the greatest band I've ever came in contact with....Understated. With in a year we changed our name to Fiasco!. Fiasco! has changed my life immensely. Instantly we went on our very own "Poor Tour 2007", and a year after that booking shows at House of Blues, Glasshouse, and every venue you can think of on the strip in Hollywood. Summer of 2009, we were asked to go on The Vans Warped Tour '09. Since then we haven't stopped hustling, and here I am now.
Every show that was performed above, for the most part, was "Pay To Play". Which means the band I was in, never got paid for what we did, we sold tickets or literally paid a venue to perform. Because you've gotta put in the time and effort before someone notices you and see's that you're worth the money they're putting up. In the career I'm headed for....I am nowhere near what I want to be doing. BUT, I love every minute of this and I appreciate everything I come across, and I understand that it takes time, money, effort, passion and persistency to obtain what I crave. And I will not stop. I literally will reach fame or die trying. I haven't changed my mindset since I was 10 years young.
I didn't wake up one morning....let's say a year or two...or three ago, and say "Hey, I play guitar.....I'm gonna find some friends who play and sing too, and form a band and walk into a venue and just get shit handed to us." It doesn't work that way. Fiasco! has obtained so much in the past 2 years that we're finally getting recognition and I love it. It's the greatest feeling to see all of your hard work pay off, even if you're not getting paid. Now I will say, now days, we get paid for what we do. Even if it's small amounts. I just love seeing the change, the turning point in a career. Especially one of which is part of the artistic field. Again, I'm taking in every moment now and appreciate aht I have, and just love watching it all unravel. It took years to get to where I am now....and it's going to take a lot more to get to where I'm going.
With that said, thanks to every single family member, every single friend and every single fan that has supported me and my bands since day one. Even if you just discovered Fiasco! at the last House of Blues show....you have no idea how much it means to me that you now have love and support for us. With out any of you....I CAN'T do what I do. I cannot. There would be no reason to perform live if it weren't for you. Thank you so much. I will never forget you. So long as you never forget me =)
And for those of you who read my blog posts....thanks. I use this site to blog my thoughts and moments in life...as well as venting to "no one". But turns out, I check out my profile views and see that I have a coupe followers and I love it. Means a lot.
Daniel Durston
At age 9, my Dad bought a drum set for the entire family. My four older brothers, my Dad and I would play this set probably every single day since the time he bought it. At age 10, my Dad bought me my first electric guitar. As any aspiring musician would, I practice every single day for a half hour to an hour for about 2 to 3 months til my heart was content with the basic chords I had learned. With in the first 2 weeks of picking up the guitar I wrote my first song called "Thinking of You". Wasn't superb, seeing that I was only 10. I went on to write surf style music. No vocals. With my brother Dennis on drums, we started performing at my elementary school's assemblies on Friday mornings. Went onto Middle School and performed at small gatherings and a few lunch time concerts in the Mutli Purpose Room. At this point I had my own band. Started out with my brother, and then met some musicians in Junior High and formed a band here and there. In this moment in my life, I began to perform at recreational venues all over the Inland Empire. By the time I hit the end of Sophomore year in high school, I was in the band Unforgotten. and had performed at least an under-exaggerated 150 shows. Began to perform solo at every coffee shop and street fair possible. Created a band called Xanimo with a few friends and went "balls out". We performed every place imaginable around all of Southern California. I quit the band and continued with my solo career as a singer/song writer. About 2 years later I joined the greatest band I've ever came in contact with....Understated. With in a year we changed our name to Fiasco!. Fiasco! has changed my life immensely. Instantly we went on our very own "Poor Tour 2007", and a year after that booking shows at House of Blues, Glasshouse, and every venue you can think of on the strip in Hollywood. Summer of 2009, we were asked to go on The Vans Warped Tour '09. Since then we haven't stopped hustling, and here I am now.
Every show that was performed above, for the most part, was "Pay To Play". Which means the band I was in, never got paid for what we did, we sold tickets or literally paid a venue to perform. Because you've gotta put in the time and effort before someone notices you and see's that you're worth the money they're putting up. In the career I'm headed for....I am nowhere near what I want to be doing. BUT, I love every minute of this and I appreciate everything I come across, and I understand that it takes time, money, effort, passion and persistency to obtain what I crave. And I will not stop. I literally will reach fame or die trying. I haven't changed my mindset since I was 10 years young.
I didn't wake up one morning....let's say a year or two...or three ago, and say "Hey, I play guitar.....I'm gonna find some friends who play and sing too, and form a band and walk into a venue and just get shit handed to us." It doesn't work that way. Fiasco! has obtained so much in the past 2 years that we're finally getting recognition and I love it. It's the greatest feeling to see all of your hard work pay off, even if you're not getting paid. Now I will say, now days, we get paid for what we do. Even if it's small amounts. I just love seeing the change, the turning point in a career. Especially one of which is part of the artistic field. Again, I'm taking in every moment now and appreciate aht I have, and just love watching it all unravel. It took years to get to where I am now....and it's going to take a lot more to get to where I'm going.
With that said, thanks to every single family member, every single friend and every single fan that has supported me and my bands since day one. Even if you just discovered Fiasco! at the last House of Blues show....you have no idea how much it means to me that you now have love and support for us. With out any of you....I CAN'T do what I do. I cannot. There would be no reason to perform live if it weren't for you. Thank you so much. I will never forget you. So long as you never forget me =)
And for those of you who read my blog posts....thanks. I use this site to blog my thoughts and moments in life...as well as venting to "no one". But turns out, I check out my profile views and see that I have a coupe followers and I love it. Means a lot.
Daniel Durston
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